Announcements Business Economy

Saudi Arabia to Take Latest Giant LEAP into New World Economies with Multi-Sector Future Technology Event and AI-Focused DeepFest

100,000-plus participants anticipated as world’s most visionary tech event gets even bigger with globe’s leading disruptors heading to Kingdom in February 2023; Billionaire investors, technocrats, tech integrators, and sporting royalty from 50 countries among stellar 700-plus talent line-up.

 

After breaking a host of industry records during its 2022 launch, LEAP – the world’s most visionary technology event – returns to Riyadh in February with an even bigger format promising to attract the greatest digital thinkers and doers to empower the entrepreneurs, ignite innovation and leap into new worlds.

 

An expected 100,000 global tech innovators and disruptors will gather at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre from February 6-9, 2023, to unveil and accelerate a huge platform of breakthrough products and ideas, and forge partnerships that will drive new worldwide collaborations leveraging technology’s limitless potential.

 

Taking place alongside LEAP, the inaugural DeepFest – in partnership with the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) – will run from February 7-9 and gather drivers of the global Artificial Intelligence eco-system to unveil life-changing, multi-sector initiatives in a thought-leadership conference and sector-specific tracks, trainings, live-demos, start-up pitches and an exhibition featuring companies transforming the world we live and work in. Support comes from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), which is powering LEAP in conjunction with Tahaluf – a strategic joint venture co-owned by Informa PLC and the SAFCSP.

 

Global business leaders, technocrats and experts will take to LEAP’s main stage to bring new perspectives to pressing world issues, including climate emergency and sustainable development, health crises, equality, inclusion, belonging and diversity. They will discuss the leadership strategies of tech giants and unicorns, explore web3’s business potential, and look to redefine governance paradigms for privacy, safety, and security.

 

The event will host over 700 billionaire investors, astronauts, technocrats, and sporting superstars turned tech investors across LEAP’s various stages housing 15 conferences.

 

With over 900 exhibitors confirmed for 2023, LEAP has drawn a powerful international line-up, some of which will take part in new mega tent displays and include world-leading names from throughout the USA, Middle East, Levant, North Africa, the Sub-continent, Europe, and Scandinavia. They include Saudi Arabian heavyweights STC, NEOM, Saudi Aramco, Mobily and ELM lining up alongside an international cadre of the biggest names in the tech business, including Snapchat, Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, Visa, Alibaba cloud, Ericsson, Huawei, Dell, Nokia, SAP, Microsoft, Cisco, and IBM.

 

 

 

Some of LEAP’s speakers this year include football legend and tech investor Thierry Henry; billionaire venture capitalist Tim Draper; two-time World Boxing Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua; Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia; Borje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson; Steve Bartlett, the youngest Dragon’s Den investor, podcaster, and founder of Social Chain; Gitanjali Rao, the 17-year-old American inventor and TIME’s first-ever Kid of the Year; Susan Kilrain, NASA astronaut and the second woman and youngest person to pilot the Space Shuttle; and Sian Proctor, an explorer and mission pilot for the Inspiration4 all-civilian orbital mission to space. The scheduled investors control a combined and unprecedented US $1.6 trillion fund pool.

LEAP is the window to tomorrow’s world, an event which powers the future and empowers those looking to shape it

 

“Our rapidly changing world demands we keep pace with appropriate regulation and governance, and we need the best brains in the business to help us navigate a globally appropriate pathway,” said Faisal Al Khamisi, Chairman of the SAFCSP.

 

A series of precision-focused Orbital Talks at LEAP will lift the lid off new parameters impacting the creative economy, smart cities, 4IR, energy, sustainability, FinTech, HealthTech, retail, education, NFTs and space tech. The LEAP Investor Stage, meanwhile, will see the world’s most sought-after tech investors deep-mine emerging opportunities. Among those scouting potential at LEAP’s Investor Stage will be industry titans GV Ravishankar, Managing Partner of Sequoia Capital India; Tim Ringel, Investor & Advisory Board Member of Adit Ventures; and William Bao Bean, General Partner, SOSV, who will witness first-hand the exhilarating Rocket Fuel Start-up Pitch Competition, where 90 incredible start-ups will compete for a prize pool of more than US$1 million.  LEAP has also launched a Mentorship Scheme where up to 30 creative start-ups can connect with globally experienced experts before, during and after the event.

 

Themed ‘AI Beyond Imagination’, DeepFest will see thought-leaders, change-makers, big tech, data scientists, innovators, enterprises, academia, start-ups, and innovative business entrepreneurs unveil government AI initiatives and multi-sector innovations through a thought-leadership conference and sector-specific tracks, trainings, live-demos, and innovation sessions. The new conference program this year has tracks for clean tech, the Metaverse, , and women in technology, while the DeepFest exhibition will feature the world’s top tech companies and breakthrough stars.

 

The Future is Here and Now

 

Mingling with exhibitors and visitors will be robotic humanoids from Japan and Hong Kong, dancing robots from the USA,  the American innovators of the ‘Space 4 Girls’ weather balloon, which captures flight and low orbit images from space, and the team behind Roybi, the AI powered companions designed to tutor children. They will demo alongside Magic Keys augmented reality, which helps budding musicians learn to play instruments without reading music; the Stage11 music experience, which combines gaming, mixed reality and digital collectables; the South Korean haptic suit that has been integrated into VR games; Italy’s ‘Mirror’, which customises PINKO bags and mints them into NFTs; Interstellar Lab advanced farming technologies; and, from Estonia, the world’s first hydrogen-powered autonomous vehicle.

 

“These are the 21st century inventors who are presenting the world of living and work – but not as we currently know it,” said Michael Champion, Regional EVP, MEA at Informa Markets, which organises LEAP. “This is an unprecedented and universal exhibitor mix which will send technology advancement into a whole new world-living orbit. LEAP is the window to tomorrow’s world, an event which powers the future and empowers those looking to shape it.”

 

LEAP has garnered support from numerous leading government and private sector organisations. Strategic partners and sponsors for LEAP23 include NEOM, STC, Saudi Aramco, Mobily, IBM, Microsoft, Ericsson, Huawei, and Najm Insurance. The 2023 edition will also host country pavilions from the United Kingdom, Finland, Japan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Oman and India.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

You may also like

Business Economy

Self-sustainability solutions and smart technology will help South Africa overcome its water crisis

post-image

 

 

Technology company, Versofy, best known for its solar solutions and services, says that preparing for South Africa’s water crisis should become a significant priority. The company, which is fast becoming a necessity-driven entrepreneurial brand, believes that further use of smart technology will also remain critical when addressing the pressing issues of water scarcity in South Africa.

 

Ross Mains-Sheard, Co-Founder and CEO of Versofy, says that South Africa’s water crisis is fast approaching scarcity status: “We believe that by promoting self-sufficiency and sustainability through our own smart technology solutions, we will help to address the increasing concerns regarding an imminent water shortage.”

 

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) estimates that 2.2 billion people across the globe don’t have access to clean drinking water. This is of concern when considering that water is a basic need for health and hygiene.   According to DBSA, South Africa’s physical water scarcity will become…

Read More
Business Culture Economy Entertainment Investments

Nigerians Rally Against DSTV’s High Subscription Rates, Embrace SLTV as Affordable Alternative – Anthony Emeka Nwosu

post-image

 

Amid mounting dissatisfaction with DSTV’s steep subscription fees, Nigerians are turning to SLTV in droves, marking a significant shift in the country’s television landscape.

The online outcry against DSTV gained traction when Mike Igozino voiced his frustration, announcing his switch to SLTV and condemning DSTV’s exploitation of hard-earned income. His sentiments resonated widely, sparking a wave of support for SLTV as a more economical option for premium entertainment.

“I can watch all Premier League, Champions League, Italian and Spanish leagues with just #5K monthly?! And DSTV collects 23,800 from me monthly… Nigerians, shine your eyes, DSTV came to steal from us,” declared Igozino, encapsulating the sentiment of many disillusioned consumers.

Jennifer Chioma Owolabi echoed the sentiment, expressing her eagerness to explore SLTV as a viable alternative to DSTV. She sought insights into SLTV’s offerings beyond sports channels, highlighting the growing interest in diversifying entertainment options.

Read More
Business Economy Society Software

Azentio Software wins three honours at IBS intelligence (IBSi) Digital Banking Awards 2024

post-image

Azentio Software (“Azentio”) (www.Azentio.com), a Singapore-headquartered technology firm owned by funds advised by Apax Partners, announced today that it has won three awards with its respective clients, at the IBSi Digital Banking Awards 2024 ceremony, held as a part of the prestigious Cedar-IBSi Digital Banking & AI Summit, on April 19 in Bengaluru, India. The company was declared Segment Winners I SME/Corporate Banking, Regional Winners I Middle East & Africa, and Segment Winners I Compliance Management.

 

Organised by IBS intelligence (IBSi), one of the world’s leading financial technology research, advisory, and news analysis firm firms, the annual award program honours technology players, Banking as a Service (BaaS) providers, digital banks, neo banks, and challenger banks for their excellence in driving impact through technology implementations and innovations using emerging technologies.

The Azentio Accolades

  • Digital Badge of Segment Winners I SME/Corporate Banking
  • Digital Badge of Regional Winners I…
Read More
Announcements Business Economy

Ethnos Hosts FinTech Association of Nigeria for Collaborative Discussions on Cybersecurity

post-image

 

Ethnos, a leading cybersecurity firm based in Lagos, recently welcomed the esteemed members of the FinTech Association of Nigeria to their premises for a collaborative meeting aimed at enhancing cybersecurity measures within the financial technology sector.

The event provided an invaluable platform for industry stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions on the evolving landscape of cybersecurity in Nigeria’s burgeoning fintech industry. Led by Peter Ejiofor, the CEO of Ethnos, the gathering underscored the importance of fostering strong partnerships to fortify cybersecurity frameworks and mitigate emerging threats.

Expressing gratitude to the FinTech Association of Nigeria for their visit, Peter Ejiofor remarked, “Thank you to the FinTech Association of Nigeria for stopping by at our office. It was a pleasure hosting such esteemed professionals, and we are committed to fostering positive progress and achievements in our collaborative efforts moving forward.”

The meeting exemplified Ethnos’ dedication to promoting cybersecurity excellence and its commitment to supporting…

Read More
Business Economy Technology Technology Trends Telecoms

Africa Data Centres debuts ADC Channel programme

post-image

The primary goal of ADC Channel is to foster collaboration among partners within the ISP, Carrier, Telecommunications, Systems Integration, ICT and Data Centre providers; Channel Partners will have additional product offerings to add to their current portfolio and in turn generate new revenue streams; The programme offers partners easy access to data centre experts and will provide ongoing commercial and technical support.

Africa Data Centres, a division of the Cassava Technologies group, is excited to announce the launch of its exclusive channel partner programme, ADC Channel. This programme is designed to establish colocation and ecosystem partnerships, empowering members to expand their product portfolio & offerings alongside their market presence including an expanded data centre footprint.

ADC Channel presents a unique opportunity for global carriers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), system integrators, Data Centres, Mobile Network, Content Developer, telecommunications companies, network infrastructure operators, hyperscalers and others to deliver state-of-the-art, sustainable and cost-effective digital solutions to…

Read More
Business

Chinenye Anuforo Honored with MTN Nigeria Foundation Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Reportage

post-image

 

Chinenye Anuforo, a distinguished journalist with The Sun Newspapers, has been recognized with the prestigious MTN Nigeria Foundation Chairman’s Award for Innovative Reportage. The award ceremony took place during the School of Media and Communication’s (SMC) graduation ceremony for the MTN Media Innovation Program (MIP-2).

Presented by Mrs. Odunayo Sanya, the Executive Director and Board Member of MTN Foundation, along with a cash prize, the award acknowledges Chinenye’s exceptional report on the MTN Foundation Y’ellopreneur initiative. This initiative focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs by providing essential tools such as training, funding, and mentorship.No alt text provided for this image

Chinenye’s report highlighted the significant impact of the Y’ellopreneur initiative on women’s entrepreneurial aspirations in Nigeria. Her insightful exploration of the program’s contributions earned her this esteemed recognition.

Expressing her gratitude, Chinenye Anuforo stated, “I am pleased to receive the MTN Foundation Chairman’s…

Read More
Business Economy Environment Society Tourism Travels

Transcorp Hotel Expands to Lagos with Ambitious Project

post-image

 

Transcorp Hotels Plc, under the leadership of Tony Elumelu, is set to establish its presence in Lagos with the construction of the Transcorp Hotel Ikoyi Lagos. The upcoming 20-story property, slated for completion in 2027, aims to offer 315 rooms, positioning itself as a formidable competitor to industry giants like Marriott and Sheraton.

The project, which faced delays in its development, has now resumed construction after overcoming various challenges. With 90% of the company’s current revenue stemming from its Abuja property, known as Transcorp Abuja, the Lagos venture marks a strategic move to diversify earnings and expand its footprint in the hospitality sector.

Dupe Olusola, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc, emphasized the significance of the Lagos expansion, highlighting its potential to drive revenue growth and enhance the firm’s position in the hospitality market. Financing options, including equity…

Read More
Business Economy Events Technology Technology Trends

Hanson Johnson of Start Innovation Hub Propels Akwa Ibom’s Transformation into an ICT Hub

post-image

 

In a pivotal move aimed at reshaping the economic landscape of Akwa Ibom State, Hanson Johnson, the Founder/CEO of Start Innovation Hub and a prominent figure in the digital ecosystem, has unveiled plans for the Akwa Ibom Tech Week. This initiative marks a significant step towards transitioning the state from its reliance on oil and agriculture to becoming a thriving center for Information and Communication Technology (ICT).No alt text provided for this image

During a recent address, Johnson articulated his vision for the region, stating, “There’s been extensive deliberation within closed circles regarding our shared ambition to transform Africa into a hub for living, working, and creating opportunities, starting right here in Akwa Ibom State 😜. Out of these discussions emerged Akwa Ibom Tech Week and numerous other initiatives, including the Ibom Innovation Network, designed to foster collaboration among innovators.”

Expressing his…

Read More